# Spend a little more for these items **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167 "2015-01-06T21:44:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/41 "2015-01-08T00:47:20Z")
Ketchup. The off-brand stuff just doesn’t cut it. J. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/42 "2015-01-08T06:48:01Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Anything that is intended to keep you warm and/or dry. ↑ ↑ ↑ Preach it Brother… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/43 "2015-01-08T08:57:15Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > A mattress. Get the best and most comfortable one you can afford. It’s like commercial says: you spend a third of your life on it (ideally). Replace mattress with pillow and I’ll agree with you. A $50 pillow is worlds better than a ten dollar pillow. A $2500 mattress is not that much better than a $500 dollar one. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/44 "2015-01-08T18:57:11Z")
Shoes Tires Sheets _Some_ hand tools The tools thing- for a chisel for instance, pay up. But I’m still using some tools I got out of the $3 bin at Odd Lot 25 years ago and they’re doing just fine- slipjoint pliers, linesman pliers, needlenose, nippers, a few screwdrivers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/45 "2015-01-08T19:21:27Z")
Butter. Margarine is not, cannot be, and never will be a substitute. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/46 "2015-01-09T05:31:22Z")
Carpet pads. The carpet can be cheap, but a decent pad will make a world of difference. Spices - cheap spices just seem like flavored sawdust. Snow shovels - save your back. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/47 "2015-01-09T05:41:57Z")
Garbage bags. The money you save isn’t nearly worth having the bottom fall out of one and having to clean up the mess. ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/48 "2015-01-09T05:43:58Z")
I’m a big skier and I have been my whole life. I will never, ever skimp on ski equipment. If you hold your own on the slopes, quality equipment is very important. I bought a pair of first edition Salomon X-Screams in '98 for $1100 and just retired them last year (the base delaminated). On Rossi Soul 7’s now which are slightly cheaper but I intend to get an equal amount of years out of them ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/49 "2015-01-09T11:15:37Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Gas grills. > Seriously, spend the $500+ bucks and get the Weber. I came into the thread for the same reason, but I prefer the [Holland](http://www.hollandgrill.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm) grill. I’m still cooking on the one I bought 12 years ago. They’re a little harder to find, but worth it imo. I don’t know what’s current in the home speaker market\* but I’d vote for spending good money there as well. I’m still enjoying the (to me) near perfect sound of the [Klipsch](http://www.klipsch.com/) speakers I bought 34 years ago. \*which sorta proves my point. I’ve never bought any since. ---
**Author:** ![Thekidisadick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Thekidisadick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thekidisadick)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/50 "2015-01-09T11:23:46Z")
well he really didn’t on purpose but he sure did fuck it up the way I never wanted it to be. It a very detailed situation. my point is I me You and your kids are losing the ability to lOok someone straight in the eye , respond with thought, and power of self. The minds and voices have now been turned over to our extremities which were not meant for communication but survival. That means over time the human race is going to be shut down ONE WEEKLY QUESTION: ( I will be searching every week. So Please answer ) What do you feel and what goes through your head when you see two younger folks that are friends , 10 ft away from each other texting back and forth instead of speaking face to face? Good night and fuck tomorrow Thekidisadick ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/51 "2015-01-09T13:38:38Z")
> [@jharvey963](#): > > Ketchup. The off-brand stuff just doesn’t cut it. > > J. And it’s gotta be Heinz, because Hunt’s is for . . . Oh, and Sushi. A friend took us out for Sushi at an all-you-can-eat place. It was the worst ever, but very reasonably priced. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/52 "2015-01-16T16:02:54Z")
There’s a wide variety of ‘sushi’ at a huge Chinese buffet restaurant, but it’s pre-made and dry and not very good. Last time I was there, the kid at the counter kept bringing me different concoctions with different sauce that he whipped up, and I told him please stop! (as there is a 1 in 10 chance I will be puking my guts out later that night, why exacerbate the suffering?) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/53 "2015-01-16T19:57:50Z")
My first thought was TP too. Then good workshoes. Tools are self evident to me. What’s left? Beer and coffee. Life is short to drink watery crap. I do antique restorations and really splurged on 3 color high quality textured business cards. Paint. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/54 "2015-01-16T23:05:21Z")
I agree with much of what was posted, especially butter. But let me add toenail clippers. I splurged a bit and bought [these](http://www.amazon.com/Mehaz-Professional-Straight-Toenail-Clipper/dp/B000HUACKG/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1421449416&sr=8-24&keywords=toenail+clipper). What a joy. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/55 "2015-01-17T02:20:10Z")
Agree on toilet paper. And popcorn. The store brand burns. But higher end, my mother gave my wife a top of the line KitchenAid mixer over 30 years ago, and it is still working perfectly. Back then she was using it to bake bread so it got a workout. Ditto the Cuisinart food processor, And one time she decided to buy a handbag which wasn’t Coach. Broke in about a year (and it was hardly cheap.) She’s never making that mistake again. For me, name brand soda (Coke, Barqs) beats the hell out of store brands. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/56 "2015-01-17T02:40:03Z")
Garden hose. Also agree on; Tools Toilet paper Garbage Bags ---
**Author:** ![straightdough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@straightdough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straightdough)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/57 "2015-01-17T05:07:44Z")
toilet paper, shoes, tools, vodka, trash bags, soda, knives, pots + pans and such, car stereo systems, laptops … just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/58 "2015-01-17T13:57:00Z")
Has no one mentioned high-quality SOCKS? They are at least as important as good-fitting shoes. Wish I could find some. My last 6 pairs, bought over a decade ago, have finally bit the dust. They’ve worn out. And I wish I could remember the brand name. Berksters? Bhoemers? Rhomers? Some kinda German or Swedish or someother name. They are thin, WOOL, no-bind ribtops (crew / ankle length), and sized to fit the foot. Pleasant colors and not flashy. Mens’ socks, and I am female. Can anyone help me out here? I’m buying el-cheapo “merino wool” & “cashmere-blend” socks at the outlet store. I hope they will be OK. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/59 "2015-01-17T14:15:07Z")
Cheap coffee really stinks, as does that which hasn’t been stored properly. Also I like a nice shirt, the last pair of jeans I bought cost about $7, the last shirt I bought cost about $70. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167/60 "2015-01-17T14:48:23Z")
> [@Atomic\_Mama](#): > > Has no one mentioned high-quality SOCKS? They are at least as important as good-fitting shoes. > > Wish I could find some. My last 6 pairs, bought over a decade ago, have finally bit the dust. They’ve worn out. And I wish I could remember the brand name. Berksters? Bhoemers? Rhomers? Some kinda German or Swedish or someother name. > > They are thin, WOOL, no-bind ribtops (crew / ankle length), and sized to fit the foot. Pleasant colors and not flashy. Mens’ socks, and I am female. > > Can anyone help me out here? I’m buying el-cheapo “merino wool” & “cashmere-blend” socks at the outlet store. I hope they will be OK. ☹ Agree with you about socks. I love my SmartWool socks. Tools. Especially power tools. Couldn’t be happier with my Skil worm drive or my Stihl chainsaw. The Husquavarna weed eater cost a bit, but always gets the job done with little frustration. Hand tools I can be happy with Craftsman. Not top of the line, but good enough. But I’m hardly a full time mechanic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spend-a-little-more-for-these-items/709167.md?page=4)